Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Daniel Gonzalez, a Georgetown senior originally from Carrollton, Texas, is passionate about screenwriting because of Professor Glavin. (Photo: courtesy Daniel Gonzalez)

By Kara Burritt

Daniel Gonzalez, a Georgetown senior originally from Carrollton, Texas, is passionate about each one of his varied interests. Be it studying—he majors in Sociology with a double minor in English and Government—or working at Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship, or even cheering on the Washington Nationals, Gonzalez brings enthusiasm and energy to all he does.  

Perhaps this is why he succeeded in Professor Glavin’s "Filmmaking for Writers" course and is now enrolled in "Intermediate Scriptwriting" with the professor renowned for his difficulty.

“I’ve never enjoyed working so hard for a class,” said Gonzalez of his experience with Glavin. “Professor Glavin empowers you to create masterpieces, and he won’t stop pushing until you do. Students respect professors who responsibly demand excellence, and no other professor fits the bill better.”

Gonzalez’s commitment to producing excellent work in filmmaking first stemmed from an inclination for writing combined with a "Film Noir" class taken with Georgetown’s Professor Wurtzler during Gonzalez’s sophomore year. He has completed a different film course every semester since then, compiling a portfolio of short films and documentaries.

Having studied a range of skills and aspects of filmmaking, from production to theory, Gonzalez found Professor Glavin’s class unique in addressing the power of the writer in creating great films.

“When I first started making documentaries and short films in Georgetown classes I thought I was training myself to become a director, eventually a big name like Spielberg or Scorsese,” explained Gonzalez. “I learned how to frame shots, light scenes and storyboard because I thought what you saw on screen drove the emotion you felt when watching a movie. Professor Glavin made me realize the driver’s seat actually belongs to the writer and that his imagination is responsible for the bulk of what makes a movie great.”

Yet, Gonzalez acknowledges the difficulty in developing an original idea, not to mention a quality one. The inherent challenge in creating good films does not intimidate Gonzalez, as he believes in the power of movies to cure many ailments. Identifying with the portrayal of an emotion or event onscreen can relieve viewers from their own concerns; something Gonzalez has experienced many times.

He said, “Film has always been cathartic for me. I feel like I have a lot of emotions and ideas in my head that need to be shared with someone, anyone, and I believe the best way for me to express them is through film.”

To achieve this expression, Gonzalez is considering pursuing work in screenwriting after graduating from Georgetown. Though he is not fully committed to a career plan, he embraces the possibilities this leaves open to him. Gonzalez will continue cultivating his varied interests, whether professionally or leisurely, even while enthusiastically welcoming new ones.

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